Experiencing facial pain or toothache can be unpleasant, especially when it prevents you from doing simple things like talking or smiling. The feeling can also worsen if you don’t know who to call for help. Would it help to see a dentist, physical therapist, or chiropractor? Do you need dental or trigeminal neuralgia pain relief? To help you find some answers, we gathered the top eight reasons why your cheekbones and teeth could be hurting. Hopefully, the list can help you figure out how to move forward with your care plan.
1. Sinusitis
Sinus infection or sinusitis is among the leading causes of facial pain. When your sinuses get irritated, they swell up and cause congestion in the nasal area. It can also cause other symptoms, including runny nose, facial pain, and headaches.
In rare cases, it can lead to the onset of a toothache. The pressure from the swollen sinus primarily affects several teeth, especially the upper molars. If you have sinusitis, you might need to take anti-inflammatory medication or try nasal irrigation to flush out the pathogens. You might also benefit from seeing an upper cervical care doctor to decongest your sinuses.
2. Previous dental procedure
Tooth and facial pain can occur after a dental procedure like a root canal or tooth extraction. Thankfully, you can expect the swelling to subside after 72 hours. If your symptoms worsen, we suggest calling your dentist and requesting a follow-up check-up. This is the best way to determine if you need an additional procedure or if you suffer from complications such as:
- Loose crown
- New tooth decay
- Tooth fracture
- Gingivitis
- Tissue growth (cysts, gingival hyperplasia, etc.)
3. Sleep bruxism
Sleep bruxism or teeth grinding during bedtime is a common dental problem in the USA. It mainly gets triggered by stress, anger, or fear. However, sometimes, it can trace its origin to misaligned jawbones, crooked or missing teeth, and sleep apnea. The involuntary movement and clenching of the jaws often cause teeth and cheek pain when you wake up in the morning. It also causes earaches, broken teeth, sleep deprivation, and TMJ pain.
Thankfully, if you have this condition, you can try proven bruxism remedies to cope. Some examples of these include:
- Using a mouthguard
- Staying physically active
- Taking a warm and relaxing bath before sleeping
- Managing your stressors
- Having your upper cervical bones checked for misalignment
4. Coronary artery disease
CAD or coronary artery disease affects about 18.2 million Americans. Besides the usual symptoms and complications like heart attack, angina, and arrhythmia, it also causes tightness and discomfort in your cheeks, neck, and jaw. If you suspect having CAD, you must seek medical assistance right away. This way, you can get a proper diagnosis and assess the extent of your condition.
You might also need to take medications to control your cholesterol levels, slow down your heart rate, and prevent heart attacks. Depending on the severity of your CAD and pre-existing conditions, you might also need additional procedures like stent placement, angioplasty, and coronary artery bypass surgery.
5. Dental abscess
A dental abscess can develop because of several things, including poor dental hygiene, tooth decay, gum injury, dental infection, or weak immune system. It can cause many symptoms ranging from unbearable facial and jaw pain to profuse sweating. To eliminate the symptoms and discomfort caused by the abscess, you need to visit the dentist to remove the source of the infection. You will also need to take antibiotics to kill off the bacteria accumulated in the affected tissues.
6. Sialadenitis
Sialadenitis is an inflammatory condition that affects the salivary glands. It’s a rare health problem that causes discomfort inside the mouth, throat, ears, chin, and facial muscles. Sometimes, it can also cause toothache if the condition worsens. Getting diagnosed by your primary doctor is the first step to controlling the disease. It would also help to take antibiotics or antiviral drugs to fight the pathogens that bring about your symptoms.
7. Periodontal disease
Gum or periodontal disease can potentially leave lasting damage to the soft tissues inside the mouth. It can also impact teeth attached to the affected tissue, leaving you vulnerable to experiencing extreme toothaches and facial pain. Most cases of gum disease develop due to poor hygiene. They also heal quickly with the help of antibiotics and other medications.
8. Trigeminal neuralgia
Approximately 15,000 people get diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia in the USA each year. This neurological condition causes searing facial pain because of a compressed trigeminal nerve. This specific nerve bundle innervates various parts of the face. As a result, simple activities like touching your face or brushing your teeth can set off the symptoms and leave you in pain for a few minutes to several hours.
Most people diagnosed with this condition seek trigeminal neuralgia pain relief and visit an upper cervical chiropractor. This is because the nerve compression mainly stems from a cervical spine misalignment. With the help of upper cervical chiropractic adjustments, the affected nerves can get decompressed, and the patient can slowly heal and recover.
Time to See a Chiropractor for Trigeminal Neuralgia Pain Relief
Indeed, a lot of things can cause your cheekbones and teeth to hurt. If you got diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia, it might help to try upper cervical care. With the help of an upper cervical chiropractor, you can find and correct postural abnormalities in the topmost section of your neck.
Once the C1 and C2 bones return to their original positions, you can eliminate signal interference and help compressed nerves like the trigeminal nerve heal. This type of chiropractic adjustment will also allow you to reduce the impact of trigeminal neuralgia so you can begin enjoying activities like eating your favorite food, talking to loved ones, and smiling for the camera.
To experience trigeminal neuralgia pain relief, all you need to do is schedule your first appointment to pinpoint the exact location of your C1 and C2 bone misalignments. Start a powerful healing journey with upper cervical care today!
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